Do you ever wish you had become a doctor?

[BEorP]

I have thought about it on many occasions, but I'm not sure if it is the right thing to do. :wink:

Let us know when you figure it out :wink:

[Dustdevil]

Sure, I thought seriously about med school on a few occasions. It was exactly what I planned to do when I got off of active duty at age 21. I went right into pre-med and started working on it. Even got my biology degree. But I made one fatal mistake during that first year of pre-med; I decided to become a Paramedic too. That decision killed my med school hopes, although it took me a few years to finally admit it to myself.

But also along the way, I realised that being a physician wasn't my true dream in life after all. Yes, practicing medicine rocks. I love it. But many, many other things involved with being a physician are a grind. It's not all fun and games like television would have you believe. I know that I am much better suited in every respect to being a medic than to being a physician.

Although, I have to say that being a medic is not really my "true calling" either. I keep coming back to it because I do love it and, quite honestly, it is the one thing I have done that I am best at.

There are probably few people entering EMS who do not at some point at least give a long look at going to med school. Damn few every actually go. A lot mouth off about it throughout their careers, but never make it. I began working with a rookie medic in the early 1980's who was already talking about this just being his stepping stone to med school. For those first couple of years, we thought he might actually have a chance at it. But, alas, he got too caught up in the lure of the siren to ever make it, just like the rest of us. He died about fifteen years later, drunk and face down in his own vomit at an EMS party. At that time, he was still a pre-med student, more than a year away from finishing his bachelors degree, and still telling anybody who would listen that he was going to med school. The guy giving his eulogy joked that our friend was the longest-time pre-med student in history. He was, in fact, the inspiration for the line in my "occupation" listing seen under my photo.

At least he actually stayed in EMS all that time. He was a damn good medic too. And all that pre-med education helped him immensely to become that good, so it was by no means a waste. Most guys who do all this mouthing off about med school neither finish their pre-med, nor even finish a decade in EMS.

Becoming a medic, and then at some point realising that you want to actually practise medicine on your own terms, rather than be a wage slave protocol monkey for AMR for the rest of your life, is a natural occurrence, and a logical and admirable goal. But becoming a medic because you think it is some kind of first step towards becoming a physician is about as smart as thinking that amateur porn is a good first step towards becoming a Hollywood movie star.

[akflightmedic]

But becoming a medic because you think it is some kind of first step towards becoming a physician is about as smart as thinking that amateur porn is a good first step towards becoming a Hollywood movie star.

Oh damn, they were fun to make however.

On a serious note, I graduated high school, started college working on my biology degree(pre-med program) cause I had wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. I was always taking care of people and knew it was in my blood. However, trying to be productive during my college years and stay out of trouble, I started volunteering on the side with a local rescue squad. I immediately became an EMT then a paramedic. Once I got my first job with the county which was exactly 2 weeks after graduating EMT school, I left school much to the dismay of all my family. But alas, it was not their life to dictate.

As I progressed through the years and my relationships with doctors grew and I learned more about what they do and what the job entails, I know I made the right decision. Being a doctor is not for me.

The only thing I regret is not finishing my degree then, no matter what subject. It took me many years of hard work to go back and complete it. I mean we are talking 6 years to get a 2 year degree, but that is because I was married and with kids by then and working for slave wages...lol.

As tough as it has been, I do not regret the decision. Kudos to those that do complete it!!

[Dustdevil]

Is it just me, or is anybody else thinking they'd like to see the female robot nekkid?

Cherry 2000. Best movie ever!

[Doczilla]

I have thought about it on many occasions, but I'm not sure if it is the right thing to do. :wink:

There are still times when I ask myself "WTF was I THINKING?" Then it occurs to me that no other job rules as much as this one.

'zilla

[Ridryder 911]

I too too thought of becoming a physician a couple of times. Many years ago when I was young it was much more difficult to enter medical school. Most of the people were "sons" of physicians and one had to display financial security before application was accepted, which "nicked" me out. Most of us at that time did not have an extra $50,000 around.

When I turned 40 I decided to have a change of life and re-took my MCAT and actually did better than the first time, and was accepted at two medical schools. Several of my friends wrote letters of recommendation. What surprised me was several of those physicians took me aside and wanted to describe the down side. Out of the seven only one informed me they would re-enter medicine. Many described the overwhelming costs of school, long hours, increasing demands made by corporate and HMO's, constantly changing in billing and reimbursement as well as the acute increasing of malpractice, has totally changed their outlook of medicine. They described they felt I would make a good physician, but again if they had to all over they would not and would not recommend it to anyone. Especially an older adult because of the factors I described.

So now, instead of going MD, I will be going NP. Sure, it is not as much autonomy in some aspects or pay as well but I will not owe anything as well and it will meet my personal goals.

R/r 911

[Michael]

Is it just me, or is anybody else thinking they'd like to see the female robot nekkid?

Careful there, Pal.

[web:e0646e2f1a]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6200005.stm[/web:e0646e2f1a]

[Asysin2leads]

A long time ago I wanted to be a doctor. Everyone who knows me says I should be one, but the truth of the matter is that I know what doctors do and go through, and honestly, it just isn't for me. Being a doctor kinda sucks. Ask any doctor. Sure, you get to have "MD" after your name and wear a cool white coat, but is putting up with residency, bitchy nurses, sleazy administrators, and then the stresses of patient care really worth it? I say, nope, not for me. Some people have an attraction to power and responsibility, but I never have. I take all my responsibility seriously (I do, really, you there, stop laughing), but the desire for more power and responsibility just isn't there. My father is a doctor. I see what he goes through. He works long hours and has a lot of stress. So, being a paramedic is just fine for me right now. I'm always attracted to learning and I love working with my hands, so there is probably some medical/technical something or other in store for me down the line, but I doubt MD will ever be there for me.

[Redcell19512]

I kick myself every day for not getting a nursing degree. I'd still be working as a paramedic but with the nursing degree I'd have something that I don't have now....options. If I ever grow weary of 12 hour swingshifts or suffer a shoulder, back, or knee injury from which I can't fully recover what can I do with a paramedic cert other than work on an ambulance? Sure there are medics working in some ERs but those jobs are few. I guess I could work in a lab drawing blood all day. Maybe make $10/hr taking temperatures and blood pressures in a doctors office as a medical assistant.

I actually enjoyed college. I don't drink and hate the party scene, I actually enjoy reading and leargning. I don't think I'd want to go to school as long as needed to be a physician. Nurse practitioner or PA, sure, I'd do that.

[Ridryder 911]

I don't think I'd want to go to school as long as needed to be a physician. Nurse practitioner or PA, sure, I'd do that.

So you would go for 6 years.. not 8 ?..

R/r 911